Is this a normal period?

[Worri3d]

In my 30's now, I've always had heavy periods. I've had minor investigations (blood tests, ultrasound) I have small fibroids but in their own words not big enough to cause any symptoms. I regularly have iron deficiency anaemia and at a recent consultation I explained my periods again and because its always been this way they write down normal heavy periods etc. But as I've always had periods like this I feel like I've lost sight of what might just be normal, so are these all symptoms of a normal period?

• Duration 7-8 days min but can be more, my last period lasted 11 days, longest ever has been 3 weeks.

• Short cycles, generally I have a 22-23 day cycle and with the duration I often basically have a period every 2 weeks.

• Painful- I live on ibuprofen when I'm on.

• Heavy- luckily only about 3 days of being really heavy but I have to double up with both pad and tampon especially at night.

• Ovulation pain - I thought I imagined this for years but it definitely corresponds with when I would ovulate, I don't get this pain every month.

• I get a horrible shooting pain in the bum, usually when going for no.2 but can just be random only even when I'm on my period.

• The last few years I feel like my womb is falling out when I'm on, like it feels really heavy down there if that makes any sense!

So tell me straight are those just normal period symptoms or not?

Adenomyosis and endometriosis cause this sort of thing.

I feel like this is a real problem in general when medical staff ask about periods, one persons heavy may be another persons normal, because who knows what someone elses period is like. They try to measure by asking how quickly you soak through a tampon, but is that a regular tampon or one of the super heavy+? Sorry no help really, but solidarity because I am also confused and have some of your symptoms, I dont blame the medical profession because Im not sure how anyone could work out a standard measure really.

Has your doctor looked at the possibility of endometriosis? The stabbing pains in the bum area in particular make me wonder if it’s that.

I’m sorry you’re having to put up with this every month, whatever it is x

Classic endo symptoms. Also normal that ultrasound doesn't show much. It's usually not seen on US (unless you have endo cysts). Get referred to gynae.

Are you on any contraception? The minipill (progesterone only) helped me loads whilst waiting for surgery.

I also had the stabbing pain in the bum. It was horrendous. I had awful Endo adhesions to my rectum causing it.

• Duration 7-8 days min but can be more, my last period lasted 11 days, longest ever has been 3 weeks. not normal

• Short cycles, generally I have a 22-23 day cycle and with the duration I often basically have a period every 2 weeks. not normal

• Painful- I live on ibuprofen when I'm on. depends. Uncomfortable is normal, doubled up isn't.

• Heavy- luckily only about 3 days of being really heavy but I have to double up with both pad and tampon especially at night. Borderline. (But I am peri, so my measure of heavy might be significantly different to yours - frequent flooding, having to change in an hour, gushes are all abnormal.

• Ovulation pain - I thought I imagined this for years but it definitely corresponds with when I would ovulate, I don't get this pain every month. worth mentioning. Could be something, could be nothing.

• I get a horrible shooting pain in the bum, usually when going for no.2 but can just be random only even when I'm on my period. normal for some (called Arse Javelin on here)

• The last few years I feel like my womb is falling out when I'm on, like it feels really heavy down there if that makes any sense! not normal

Yes I totally agree, from what I said to the doc they agreed they sounded heavy but everyone's idea of what's normal or not can be different. I remember reading ages ago that you lose a certain amount of tablespoons of blood per period and I remember thinking I'm sure I lose that amount in a few hours sometimes 🤣

Not normal.

You need a laparoscopy - things like endrometriosis cannot be seen on any other scan

@10HailMarys thank you, I feel for all us women having to put up with this!
I have never been investigated for endometriosis, I had the ultrasound/blood tests years ago and as that was pretty normal results that's where they ended looking into it. As horrible as my periods can be I suppose I cope fairly well and i know there are others out there much worse than me so I've never pushed for a diagnosis but have always wondered about endometriosis.

I would personally say this is not normal! Too long - especially if you’re fully bleeding and not just spotting for all 8 days (the 11 days aren’t normal I think), and the cycles too short. Needing ibuprofen probably not that abnormal, but depends how much pain you’re in and how much the ibuprofen helps? Ovulation pain can be normal too but how painful? And when you say 3 days heavy, how heavy? Like soaking through a pad in an hour for 3 days straight? I would say that’s also more heavy than normal.

@rand0mstuff have been on the pill on and off over the years but the combined pill always made me spot mid cycle but it did make the periods lighter so cured one problem but gave me another lol.
I tried the mini pill once about 4 years ago, I bled for 8 weeks non stop and had to give up on it as I couldn't handle bleeding any longer!
I have been off contraception since and my symptoms have been much worse but this is probably the longest I've had my 'natural' periods for so that makes sense.

@Worri3d initially prolonged bleeding on the mini pill is normal. I bled for months. After 7-8 months, my periods became much lighter and they stopped after 1 year.